Shyanne Belzer/MDN Members of the Minot Area Community Foundation met with members of Zion Lutheran Church of Minot and The Lord’s Cupboard Food Pantry on Wednesday to present a check for the 16,020 pounds of food that was raised for three local food pantries in the Minot Area Community Foundation’s Second Annual Food Pantry Challenge.

On Wednesday, the Minot Area Community Foundation presented a check representing the 16,020 pounds of food donated to organizations across Minot during their Second Annual Food Pantry Challenge. The challenge gave organizations a chance to earn extra money for area food pantries while also raising food to be donated.

The Second Annual Food Pantry Challenge took place from October 2018 to the end of February this year. Participants were asked to raise at least 1,000 pounds of food with the Donation Station at their events. To do more, the MACF gave each organization that participated money to donate to one of the three food pantries of their choice alongside an extra $1,000 to be donated to the one that raised the most. The winner for the contest was Zion Lutheran Church of Minot.

In total alongside the food raised, $5,500 was sent to food pantries.

“We are so pleased with the results of the Challenge Grant this year,” said Ken Kitzman, president of MACF. “It is nice to see so many community members contribute to this cause. We hope that it continues to grow every year.”

The food raised was distributed between the Salvation Army Food Pantry, Our Lady of Grace and The Lord’s Cupboard. Of the three, The Lord’s Cupboard received eight out of 10 of the challenge grants donated.

“As the leadership team, we want to express our gratefulness to the MACF for encouraging churches, schools and businesses to support the needs of our community through food drives,” said Gerald Roise of The Lord’s Cupboard Food Pantry. “The Donation Station has dramatically increased the pounds of food that the community generously gives.”

The Lord’s Cupboard is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday every week for three hours each day. They estimate to receive around 100 people every day they are open.